“The Agricultural Society offers premiums for the best horses, cows, oxen.”

“That’s to improve stock,” answered William.  “Boat racing can only be for amusement.”

“The Horticultural Society gives premiums for the prettiest flowers,” added Frank; “and my father got one of them last summer.”

The boys were staggered again.

“Flowers are cultivated for amusement; at any rate, we don’t eat them, or drink them, or sleep on them,” continued Frank.

  “Your bed shall be roses, besprinkled with dew.”

added Fred, who never missed his joke.  “Besides, we sleep on poppies.  They are a sleepy plant, you know.”

“But the real question,” said Frank, “is, whether racing for a prize will not excite hard and envious feelings in the members of the two clubs.  I hope we shall think well of it before we vote; and for that purpose, Mr. Chairman, I move a recess of half an hour.”

The motion was carried, and the boys talked the matter over till the meeting was called to order again.

“Question!” called several voices.

The vote was immediately taken, and it stood nine in favor and two opposed to the proposition.  And so, on the part of the Zephyr, the offer was accepted.

The club then adjourned for an excursion on the lake.

CHAPTER III.

All aboard!

The club had taken their seats in the boat, and were waiting the orders of the coxswain to haul her out of her berth, when Captain Sedley made his appearance.

“You are short-handed, Frank,” said he, as he observed Tony’s vacant seat.

“Yes, sir; but we have elected a member to fill that place,” replied Frank, as he jumped out of the boat, and hastened to inform his father of what the club had done.

The members all felt a deep interest in the result of this conference; and though this was the first excursion of the season, they forgot for the time the pleasure before them in their desire to know whether the “director” would approve their action in relation to the new member and the prize.

Frank and his father entered the club-room together.

“Now, my son, what have you done?” asked Captain Sedley.

“We have discussed both questions to the best of our ability,” replied Frank, with some hesitation.

“Well, what was the result?”

“We have elected Tim to fill Tony’s place.”

“Indeed!”

“We have; and we await your sanction to our doings.”

“Did you think I would sanction such a choice as that?”

“I didn’t know.  We have fairly considered the matter; have faithfully examined both sides of the question.  If we have done wrong, you know, father, that you have a veto upon our doings.”

Captain Sedley smiled at the matter-of-fact, business-like earnestness of his son.  He felt quite as much interest in the action of the boys as they did to learn his opinion of it.